Moses was barely gone for 40 days when certain skills and capabilities of Aaron were made manifest. Who would have believed that the skill to manufacture a graven image out of earrings and jewelries was deeply rooted in Aaron. What is in a man would manifest when he is under pressure. I have seen people who so desired to take the place of their leader. They feel, know, think and believe they can do it much better. Oh yes, only if I can sit in that place of authority , I would change many things some would imagine and even boast.
Exodus 32:2-4:And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.”
Aaron probably believed that he would be a better leader than Moses. It was his moment of fame. He did not realize that leadership in God's house demands total surrender and yieldedness which only comes from the place of complete surrender and total faithfulness. Remember when Aaron and Miriam confronted Moses and accused him of being the only speaker of God? God showed up and said very clearly - Moses my servant is Faithful in all my house - Numbers 12:7. Sadly ,God could not say that of Aaron. God could see through him. The ways, wisdom, skills and capabilities of Egypt were still abundant in his life. Compromise was not a problem for him. He got the power he so wanted, but imagine the mess he created just in 40 days.
Just in 40 days, his hidden agenda and skills had enabled him to fashion a new god for the people. In the bid to impress them and come across as a good and better leader, he made the people naked before their enemies and turned them against the Almighty God. He did not stop there, he then built an altar before the idol and proclaimed a feast unto the Lord. My goodness! So at a first glance you will see the altar of God but behind the altar of God is a graven image fashioned by Aaron. He knew how to build both. Very experienced in Deception and carnal mixture.
Dearly beloved, what is behind that altar you have built unto the Lord? Did you just call for a prayer meeting for your pastor? Looks like you really want to raise an altar of prayer for him right? What is behind that altar? What golden image is behind that altar of prayer you are trying to build? What is the motivation? What unyielded skills in you fashioned that idol behind that altar? Pride? Greed? Insatiable quest for fame? Lust? Envy? Jealousy? What is in you fashioned that idol behind the altar?
Aha! You invited people to come and have dinner in your house? You prepared a feast, a “love feast” right? But behind your so-called love feast is the idol to pollute the hearts of the people and introduce them to your idol fashioned out of the secret desires and hidden agenda in your heart. And like the people, like the priest! Aaron the priest had the secret desires, and inner skills to mold the graven image, and the people had the raw materials - their earrings! It is like a transmitter, receiver application system. The people had something in them that appealed to Aaron and Aaron had something in him that responded to the people’s lust. Jacob will always meet Laban.
What is in you that is always attracting you to the wrong priest, the wrong leaders in your local church? Why are you constantly drawn to the wrong, blink-blink believers in your community? What skill, or
